Detection of Aeromonas hydrophila in food with an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay

Abstract
A microtitration plate, antibody capture, enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay was developed for the detection of Aeromonas hydrophila serotype O : 11 (highly virulent strains). The assay utilizes a detector antibody which shows no cross‐reactions with Aeromonas strains other than serotype O : 11 or non‐Aeromonas competing organisms. The detector antibody is mixed with the sample and incubated for 1 h, microcentrifuged and the supernatant fluid (unadsorbed antibody) titred in a microtitre plate coated with A. hydrophila cells from serotype O : 11. All the A. hydrophila strains from serotype O : 11 tested reacted strongly with the detector antibody. Also by culturing and performing the immunoassay with the detector antibody we established and quantified the presence of A. hydrophila O : 11 in different foods.